Immigration backlog of 500,000 cases will take 37 years to clear, say MPs

Theresa May

The Home Office’s backlog of 500,000 unresolved immigration and asylum cases will not be cleared for another 37 years at current rates of progress, according to a parliamentary watchdog.

Launching a report on the work of the now abolished UK Border Agency, Labour MP Keith Vaz, chair of the Commons home affairs select committee, warns that reforms of the organisation need to go beyond merely “rebranding”.

In taking evidence about UKBA’s work last year, the committee discovered an additional 190,000 cases in a “temporary and permanent migration pool”.

Vaz said: “The backlog of cases has now hit a staggering half a million people. This could fill Wembley stadium to capacity six times over. It has risen by 56% in just three months. At the current rate it will take 37 years to clear and the Home Office cannot confirm that this is the last of the backlogs.”